What is lazy eye (amblyopia)?
Lazy eye (amblyopia) is the term used when the vision in one eye is reduced because the eye and brain are not working together properly.
Lazy eye can result from any condition that prevents the eye from focusing correctly during the early stages of development. If detected and treated, it will often resolve completely.
What causes lazy eye?
Lazy eye may result from a large difference in the prescription between the two eyes, resulting in two different image sizes.
Crossed Eyes
Lazy eye can be caused by the misalignment of the two eyes — a condition called strabismus (crossed eyes). With strabismus, the eyes can cross inwards (esotropia) or turn outwards (exotropia).
Cataracts
Occasionally, lazy eye is caused by a clouding of the front part of the eye, a condition called cataracts, or a drooping eyelid. Because the image that is sent to the brain from the affected eye is poor, the brain will ignore this eye.
Over time, very few connections are made between the brain and the eye. It is the lack of connections that cause the eye to become amblyopic. This is why glasses alone cannot correct the problem. To strengthen the amblyopic eye, it is essential to use it. One way to achieve this is by patching the good eye and forcing the brain to use the lazy eye.
Is the lazy eye blind?
No, the lazy eye is not blind. It sees an image unclearly. Lazy eye mostly affects the central vision. Peripheral vision is less affected.
What are the symptoms of lazy eye?
Most of the time, there are no symptoms of lazy eye. Since only one eye is affected, the other eye usually has reasonably good vision and tends to take over all visual tasks. Unless the good eye is covered, the person will rarely notice the poor vision in the lazy eye. That is why children with lazy eye may not realize they cannot see properly out of both eyes.
How is lazy eye diagnosed?
A comprehensive eye exam can determine the presence of lazy eye. The earlier the diagnosis, the greater the chance for a complete recovery. This is why it’s important to have your child’s vision examined at six to nine months of age, again between three and five, then yearly thereafter.
What are treatments for lazy eye?
It is important to treat lazy early with vision therapy, eyeglasses, contact lenses, eye drops and/or patching as treatment becomes more difficult later on. 2 to 4 percent of children under the age of six are estimated to have lazy eye.